Tag Archives | shark

Turf Wars: Sharks Vs. Surfers

April 4, 2013

(OCEANS) According to the International Shark Attack File, between 1989 and 2010, there have been 14 shark attacks on surfers around Réunion, a French island east of Madagascar. Eight of the 14 attacks ended in fatalities. Recently, the island has experienced a severe spike in attacks with 10 occurring within the past two years, and three of which resulting in casualties. This large increase in such a short period of time sparked an investigation which concluded that the area was prime bull-shark habitat, however, not for the natural reasons most would suspect. The conditions have been made more hostile by humans, and the sharks have evolved and adapted to their new environment. In response to these attacks, the mayor of St. Lieu promised a shark cull. Animal-rights groups were outraged that the mayor would make such a drastic decision just to appease surfers. The ocean is a shark’s home. Why would anyone ruthlessly murder a living being in their own home? Check out the article below for more on this controversial turf war between sharks and surfers. — Global Animal

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Kmart Not So Smart: Shark Dies Filming Commercial

March 20, 2013

(ANIMAL WELFARE) Despite their tough exterior, sharks are extremely delicate creatures. Changing a shark’s environment can be very stressful for the aquatic animal and can have dire consequences. Earlier in the month, a white-tipped shark used to film a Kmart commercial died—immediately triggering an investigation by the American Humane Association (AHA), the organization responsible for monitoring how animals are used in film and television. The shark had been transported from New York to Los Angeles and was transferred to a backyard pool for the shoot. Read more about this tragic case and the responses to this shark’s untimely death. — Global Animal

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Shark Fin Shops Try To Hide Their Trade

January 8, 2013

(ANIMAL NEWS) Shark fin traders have taken to the rooftops of Hong Kong to sun dry their product in an effort to avoid the opinions of the uneasy street public below, according to new photos taken by environmental campaigner Gary Stokes. But is the public scrutiny of tourists and locals the real reason these traders have made the move from the street to the roof? Despite the disbelief of the president of the Hong Kong Sharks Fin Trade Merchants Association, Stokes believes this to be true, as Hong Kong citizens have shown a decrease in their approval of this delicacy. Each year, around 75 million sharks are killed solely for their fins. Read more about this inhumane act and give us your opinion on why these traders have chosen to retreat to the rooftops in the comment section below. — Global Animal

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EU Ends Shark Finning With Milestone Vote

November 28, 2012

(SHARK FIN) The cruel act of shark finning will no longer be tolerated in Europe, as the EU parliament officially banned the practice last week. With parliamentary approval, the measure will now hold strong and be enforced,  aiding in shark protection and preservation. Ocean conservationist groups around the world applaud the European efforts and hope other nations will follow suit. Read on to learn more about this favorable plan. — Global Animal

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Shark Saves Man’s Life

September 18, 2012

(SHARKS) As it turns out, dogs aren’t the only ones saving human lives. A policeman was brought to safety by a shark last week after having drifted in the Pacific Ocean for a near record-breaking 106 days. With countless horror films like the legendary Jaws circulating, sharks have a reputation for being aggressive, man-eating creatures. In this real-life instance, though, this shark acts as an unlikely lifesaver. — Global Animal

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Ron Taylor Of ‘Jaws’ Passes Away

September 11, 2012

(CELEBRITY NEWS) AUSTRALIA — Shark expert and marine conservationist Ron Taylor lost his battle with cancer early this week. Taylor is perhaps best known for the frightening underwater footage the world saw in the 1975 film Jaws. While the controversial film portrays great white sharks as man-eating killers, Taylor and his wife thought the opposite. They both greatly appreciated the beautiful creatures, and even pointed out that the film inspired research and interest. Read on for more about the conservation work Taylor was involved with. — Global Animal

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Shark Fins Not Allowed To Fly In Hong Kong

September 7, 2012

(ANIMAL TRADE) HONG KONG — The increasing demand for shark fin in China is contributing to the worldwide decline in the shark population. Hong Kong accounts for half of the global fin trade and last year approximately 10,000 metric tons were imported into the city. When Hong Kong’s largest airline, Cathay Pacific, discovered that 13% of the commodity was transported in by cargo, the company released a ban on shark meat in their planes. The involvement of large corporations leading the way in conservation can redirect the world’s many industries in a more animal-friendly direction. Read more to learn about the airline’s philosophy. — Global Animal

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Robot Rides Waves to Unveil Ocean Mysteries

August 21, 2012

(ANIMAL STUDY) CALIFORNIA — Shark studies won’t die out with this year’s Shark Week, as Stanford University has released a surfing robot which will follow sharks and other sea creatures along the California coast. Though the machine is planning to collect a ton of information, it is not limited to Stanford scientists. In fact, a cellphone app called “Shark Net” allows anyone with an iPhone or iPad to track the sea animals as well. Individuals hundreds of miles inland can connect with the ocean and the wonderful inhabitants within it. Read on for more details about the app and how its impending knowledge could help sealife in the near future. — Global Animal

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